Children and family work update
I was extremely busy in the months running up to Christmas working with many children and families. The Christmas Tree Festival at Brownhills was very well attended and some of our Messy Church families came to the switching on ceremony, the festival itself and also the Carol Service. We welcomed over 110 nursery and primary school children who visited as part of their school curriculum and made angels, decorations and snowmen and sang a variety of Christmas songs. There was also a successful Christmas Tree Festival with an open day at St John’s where crafts were laid on for children, and Bloxwich Children’s Centre sent staff to make crafts with the under five year olds. For both festivals, there were many local groups, schools and people of all ages who got involved to make decorations for the trees.
I also very much enjoyed taking two short toddler Christmas services at Pelsall which involved telling the Bible story using knitted characters and inviting the children to interact with the story telling, an action prayer and singing. Additionally at Pelsall, there was a Victorian style carol service which started in the centre of the village. Church members along with individuals from Pelsall Musical Society (in full period costume!)  paraded with lanterns to Church for the start of the service. The lights were dimmed and the church was illuminated with tea lights, painted glass and also festive fragrances. Afterwards, a large number of new faces were welcomed for seasonal refreshments (including a non-alcoholic mulled wine) and further entertainment. One of these entertainment slots was for a small choral group consisting of Pelsall members and others that I gathered together who volunteered to learn a Latin, unaccompanied carol. This was also well received and can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzGJF3r-xUA
Annie, Rev Hoar and myself have also been busy with the youth group that emerged from last year’s Youth Alpha course and which now meets fortnightly at various locations around the circuit. As I write this, the group have led a youth praise service at Pelsall and will be leading a second one at Short Heath over the next few weeks. This group also represented our circuit at the National 2011 Youth Assembly which they all thoroughly enjoyed and spoke about at the circuit service with the Rwandans last year.
I look forward to working with many of you over the forthcoming months as we plan for Easter and spring time activities.